Vehicle suspension



Dec. 9, 1952 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 H. A. ROTHER VEHICLE SUSPENSION 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR:

ii. BYHeZene A. ROZ/Zer jwfim Dec. 9, 11952 H. A. ROTHER VEHICLE SUSPENSION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 INVENTOR: Byffclenc 11.1?0/fzer Z Q fZwm/ Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice Helene A. Rowen-Detroit, Mich assignorjo INA, Import & Export Company, Detroit, Mich., a

Application August 14, 1948, Serial NIL-445333 10 Claims. (01. 267-4 5) The invention relates to vehicle s'uspensionand re-la-tesinore particularly to suspension means for the wheels of a vehicle.

One 'of the principal objects of'the invention is to provide for a smooth ride of thevehi'cle regardless of the vehicle load.

Anotherobject or the-invention is the provision ofresilient, pneumatically controlled suspension means forth'e wheels-of a vehicle.

A further objectof the invention isto provide such suspension m'eansthe resiliency of which is adjustable-in accordance with the changes-of the vehicle load.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such suspensionmeansthat are easy to-ins-tall, simple tom'aintain, and which may be produced atlow cost.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and-arrangement of parts which-will'beexemplified in-constructions hereinafter set'iorth and the scope of the applicationof which willbeindicated in theclaims.

The-foregoing and 'other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings-wherein: a

Fig. 1' is a schematic fragmentary perspective view-partly insection, of 'a wheel suspension, in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view ofasimilar arrangement as'Fig. 1, but showing a'm'odification;

Fig. 3i's 'a schematic sectional'viewtaken along line 3'-'3'-0f'Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a schematicsectional view similar-to Fig. Bylaw-embodying a further modification;

Fig. 5 isa-perspective schematic view showing diagrammatically the load and resilience forces In'carr-ying the invention into effect in'the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to Figs. 1-3, there is provided a body l0, including a frame ll, of a vehicle, such as an automobile or the like. A wheel 12 is suspended adjacent the'frame H of said body 10.

The instant invention will herein be explained in connection with a vehicle having four wheels. Each wheel 12 is suspended relative to the body ID of the vehicle independently of the other wheels. It will be understood, however,that the invention is equally applicable for suspension of the entire rear end'or front end of a vehicle.

Furthermore, since the suspension for each of the four wheels is similar to that of the others, except for right and left side reversal, the description will be limited in the following to a single wheel, it being assumed that said wheel be a front wheel.

The hub 15 of the wheel [2 surrounds a spindle l3, and the spindle I3 is rigidly secured about midway toa spindle'support I4 that has an upper end It and a lower end H; the spindle support l4 extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the spindle I3. Conventional means (not shown) may be provided for securing the wheel to the spindle for preventing dislodg'ing thereof fromits'emplacement thereon.

Two suspension links or arms are pivoted to the ends of said spindle support M, an upper link 18 being pivoted to the upper end it anda lower link I 9 being pivoted to the lower end H of the spindle'support 14. Each of the links [8 and I9 is pivoted with its other end with relation to the body I l) and swingable about the said' pivot point withwhich it is connected relative'to the not intended to be limited to the parallel disposalof the links shown in the drawings. Said arms 18 and I 9, saidspindle support Mthat ispivoted to'said arms, and the portion of the body i0" that is located between'the two-pivot centers 'ofsaid links, together 'fo'r'm 'a link system that defines th'e moveme'nt'of said spindle l3 relative tosaid body It, and therefore the movement of said 3 wheel I 2 relative to the body. The spindle l3 thus is movable in an arcuate path, for instance upward and downward as best shown in Fig. 5.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the link I8 is connected to one end 22 of a shaft 2| and the link I9 is connected to one end of a shaft 23. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the connection between the link and the shaft is at one end 22 of the shaft, so that an arc-center is provided for the link, and the end 22 rotates with the link It. when the latter is tilted about the shaft.

Two drum shaped enclosure structures are provided in the embodiment of Fig. 3, an upper structure 24 and a lower structure 25. Both structures are associated with the body H], for instance by welding or screwing or otherwise rigidly connecting the structures 24 and 26 to the frame II of the body ID. The shaft 2| is located centrally in the cylindrical chamber 21 that is formed by the structure 24, and the shaft 23 is located in the chamber 28 that is formed by the structure 26.

The spindle |3 may either be parallel to the shafts 2| and 23, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, or at an angle thereto, for instance a right angle, as shown in the remaining views.

Each structure 24 and 25 is provided with end walls 29 and 3| for substantially completely surrounding the cylindrical chamber 2'! and 28, respectively. Two bearings 32 and 33 (Fig. 8) are provided on each end wall, one bearing 32 being formed adjacent the end wall 29 and the other bearing 33 formed adjacent the end wall 3|.

In the structure 24, the shaft 2| projects with its end 22 beyond the bearing 32 for rigid attachment to the link l8. The other end 25 of the shaft 2| may either be freely rotatable in the bearing 33, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 8, or it may be fixed, and prevented from rotation by means of splines 34 (not shown in detail), or by other suitable means; this second embodiment is shown in Fig. 9. In both embodiments, however, the end 22 of the shaft 2| is turnable in the bearing 32 in order to follow the rotation brought about by the tilting of the link |8.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the shaft 2| is revoluble in the two bearings 32 and 33, whereas in the modification shown in Fig. 9 the end 25 of the shaft 2| is prevented from rotation and the end 22 is rotatable but only within the extent of torsional resilience of the shaft 2|; that means, the end 22 (Fig. 9) will resiliently resist the tilting movement of the link l8, and the torsional resilience of the shaft 2| will thus urge the link I8 to return to its initial position. The shaft 2|, in the embodiment of Fig. 9 constitutes a torsion bar. In both embodiments, however, the shaft end 22 is rotatable.

Torsion bars of the character described herein are well-known to those skilled in this and related arts, and it is therefore believed not necessary to describe these in greater detail. Suffice it to say that they are made of alloyed steel having great torsional resilience and being sufficiently resistant to torsional stress for providing spring return force at the torsionally stressed end.

The shaft of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is also stressed torsionally but to a much smaller degree than that of Fig. 9, as will be explained herein below. For the purpose of description herein it will be assumed that the rotatable shaft of the type shown in Fig. 8 is being employed, although it will be understood that the type of Fig. 9 is equally applicable, and reference thereto will be made later on, as this description proceeds.

Two stationary vanes 36 are provided in the chamber 21 and are rigidly secured to the structure 24 and to the end walls 29 and 3| thereof. Said stationary vanes extend substantially radially towards the center portion of the chamber but are spaced from each other for a distance sufficient to provide clearance for the shaft that is located in said center portion. Said vanes 36 are aligned and oppositely disposed.

Two movable vanes 31 are secured in the chamber 2'! to the shaft 2| and extend substantially radially therefrom towards the wall of said structure 24 but are spaced therefrom to permit movement of said movable vanes 31. Said movable vanes are movable together with the shaft 2| in opposite rotational directions, and each is normally placed against a stationary vane 36, in rest position.

Similarly, the lower structure 28 is provided with stationary vanes 38 and movable vanes 39 that are rigidly secured in the chamber 28 to the shaft 23.

As best shown in Fig. 10, the movable vanes 31 (39) as well as the stationary vanes 36 (38) may be tapered towards the center of the cylindrical chamber, and cushioning means, for instance a rubber cushion 4|, may be provided to arrange for softening the abutment impact between the movable vanes and the stationary vanes in rest position.

A resilient or power means, for instance a pneumatic element including a deformable enclosure 42, is provided between each movable vane 31 and the stationary vane 36 that is substantially oppositely thereto in said chamber 2'! (see Fig. 3). Thus the structure 24 has two resilient enclosures 42. Each enclosure 42 is shaped about semi-cylindrically and is formed of rubher, or of similar deformable material, and is filled with a compressed gaseous substance, such as compressed air, and bears against a stationary vane 36, against a movable vane 31 opposite thereto, and against the portion of the cylindrical structure side wall therebetween.

Similarly, the structure 26 has two enclosures 43 filled with compressed gas, such as air.

Each of the enclosures 42 and 43 is provided with an outlet 44, and a gas conduit 46 is connected to said outlets 44 and to a gas source, such as a gas tank 41. Between the gas tank 41 and the outlets 44, the conduit 46 is provided with a pressure control gauge 48, a pressure reduction valve 49 and a pressure control element 50. This pressure control element 50 may be of conventional type and is either operable manually or automatically, or preferably operable by both, for selectively varying the pressure within said enclosures 42 and 43. For manual operation, the handle for this control element, as well as the gauge 48, are preferably located on the dash board of the vehicle (not shown) for easy accessibility by the vehicle operator.

The load of a vehicle is not constant, but depe ds on the weight carried by the vehicle in addition to its own weight, for instance in a passenger vehicle depend on the number of passengers carried; thus the load of a vehicle is sub- Ject to changes and consequently the load portion received by each wheel varies accordingly.

Itis often desirable to change the degree of resilience of the wheel springs not only in a ance with the particular load, but also depend- 5 ingupon the condition of the road on which the vehicle travels.

The instant invention permits automatic as well as manual adjustment of the degree of resilience of each wheel with relation to the vehicle body. The resilient enclosures 42 and 43, due to the compressed air therein, urge the movable vanes towards abutment with the stationary vanes, in which rest position the body of the vehicle. has a predetermined position relative to the wheels and therefore to the road surface. Should the load increase, the links [Sand [9 as wellas the movable vanes 3'1 andtil would tend to rotate counter-clockwise (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) against the pressure exerted by the resilient enclosures 42 and s. Thereupon, additional air will be fed from the tank 41 into the enclosures 42 and 43, under the control of the element 50, for returning the movable vanes to their rest position adjacent the stationary vanes. Conversely, should the load decrease, air will be withdrawn from the resilient enclosures 42 and 43 through the conduit 46.

Furthermore, shoulda change of resilience be desired, to provide for a smoother ride on a rough roadsurface, or for other reasons, the resilience may be altered, by manual operation of the control element 50, either by withdrawing air from or'pressing additional air from the tank-4 7 into the resilient enclosures 42 and 43 In the modification shown in Fig. 4, only the link I 8 issecured to ashaft 2!, but the link I9 is connected 'to a revoluble shaft 5! that is journalledin a bearing, such as a rubber bearing, which in turn is connected to the frame H, to provide a pivot point for said link 19 relative to the body.

As shownin the diagrammatic view of Fig. 5, the load portion of the vehicle at one wheel tends to move the links l8, l9) in a counter-clockwise direction, and the pressure of the resilient elements (42, 13) tends to counteract that pressure by urging the links in a clockwise direction relative to the pivot points thereof located'on the body it).

' In order to limit the tilting movement of the links l8 and [9, there are two stops provided near the link l8 and in the tilting path thereof, as best shown in Fig. where the stops have'been designated 52 and 53. If desirable, similar stops may be provided for the link I9 in addition to those at the link l8, These stops are secured relative to the body If! (not shown in detail), and they preferably include a rubber portion for cushioning the impact between the link and the stop. The lower stop53 is so disposed that the link 18 will abut thereagainst substantially at the instant when the movable vanes are in abutment with the stationary vanes. If desired, the stops may be adjustable to permit adjustment of the abutment positions between the link l8 and the stops 52 and 53,

Where the shaft is held immovable at one end (Fig. 9) and constitutes a torsion bar, the torsional resilience of the bar will aid the resilience exerted by the air-filled enclosures in returning the links to their original position.

Instead of the torsional resilienceof the shaft, some other spring device may be used, to boost the vanes and the link in the starting position after the rotating power or load is released. However, where the shaft is revoluble 'at both ends (Fig. 8), the mainspring force will be exerted by the air-filled enclosures, and the torsional resilience of the bar will operate only to soften th pr sure at t fi izfil e energ s relate.

to thelinks. v In the modification shown in Fig. G i le,

ture I24 is "provided W st J I31, aild the shaft [2] oairies folli I36. The stationary as wellias the angular space.- Four ailfefilledlencl o ure's 12 provided between'each m each stationary vane therefrom.

In the. modi e m dime t lustrat d. n a '7, thestructure 2 2 4 is prov,idlefi 0.1 l

2.35, and theShaftZ Z I carri U I movable vanes 23 Twoa filled r r id he io wt llrreslc to l vanes. T

The enclosureslAZ and 242 of thernodiiications shown in'Figs. 6 and 'Tmay again be' conn to, a sourceof compressed air iand al ij for reducing theairpressure, si H preceding'embodiments.

Since the cylindrical enclosure structures are e subjected to elevated tempjeiatures du state of compression oflthe air. n the res enclosures, cooling'ineans areproviceo, fo stance cooling ffinsfl 56' (Figs; 1 "and '2.) '01. a jacket 51 surrounding the cylindrical structure (Fig ,Iorl siin 1 ingdevices; The cylindrical structures (21,28) mayb ranged horizontally on the frame ll as nq' theviews, or they may be arranged there ferently, such asflvertically; Alsog 'eith'er or'even' more cylindrical structures n ployed for each'wh'e'el. Theatre structiir sfare used'ifor each wheel, the softer" the ride :of vehicle willbe. l The use of the inventionhasbeen deribed only, by way of ex aniplewith the bodyand Is of an automobile, but is not limited thereto. nor is such restrictioninte'nded; it may equally e used for thelandinggears'ofan airplaneicr fr other devices wherej resilient suspension re? quired. M...

It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that the novelprinciplesflof' the'invention i closed herein in'c onnection with spec c exeinp 1 ficatiorls thereof will suggest varieus other m ficafionsendeppliqe .nj jo the same r we: Stance, it may be s lb e to eliminat .oneq the, links and to operate the independent r, wheel suspension witha single linksecuredtoa single. torsion bar. It may furthermore be possible to provide a sprung suspension ofthetynfihercin disclosed for the entire frontend or rear end ofa vehicle instead of suspending individual wheels. It is accordingly desired that in construing. the breadth of the appended claims they shall not be limited to the specific exemplificationsoi 'thefiii vention described. herein.

Having thus described the invention, what.I claim as new and desireto be secured. byJL'et'ters Patent, is as follows: 1. In a vehicle including a body and wheels, wheel suspension means, comprising, in combination, a spindle adapted to receivea wheel at the hub thereof and to be borne by said wheel, a spindle support secured to saidspindle, alink mechanism having a tiltable suspen'sionlink pivoted with one end relative to said bodyand connected with the other end to said spindle, support, and resilient revoluble action meansv including a stationary chamber structure mounted on the body, a stationary partition disposed in the chamber, a second partition rotatable relative to the first, a deformable enclosure for pressurized gas therebetween, and means connecting said second partition to said link for counteracting the pressure of the load portion of said body exerted with relation against said wheel, thereby maintaining said body substantially in predetermined position relative to said wheels.

2. In a vehicle including a body and wheels designed to carry the load of said body, wheel suspension means comprising, in combination, a spindle adapted to receive a wheel at the hub thereof and to be borne by said wheel, a spindle support secured to said spindle, a link mechanism having a tiltable suspension link pivoted with one end relative to said body and connected with the other end to said spindle support, resilient revoluble action means including a stationary chamber structure mounted on the body, a stationary partition disposed in the chamber, a second partition rotatable relative to the first, a deformable enclosure for pressurized gas therelbetween, and means connecting said second partition to said link for counteracting the pressure of the load portion of said body exerted with relation against said wheel, thereby maintaining said body substantially in predetermined position relative to said wheels, and adjusting means for said resilient means for varying the resilience thereof substantially in accordance with changes of said load.

3. In a vehicle including a body and wheels, wheel suspension means comprising, in combination, a spindle adapted to receive a wheel at the hub thereof and to be borne by said wheel, a spindle support secured to said spindle and having two opposite ends, a shaft associated with said body and having at least a portion rotatable, two movable suspension links, each pivotally connected with one end to an end of said spindle support and one link pivoted with relation to said body and the other link secured to said portion of said shaft for completing a polygonal link system defining the movement of said spindle relative to said body, and resilient revoluble action means including a stationary chamber structure mounted on the body, a stationary partition disposed in the chamber, a second partition mounted on said shaft in said chamber and being rotatable relative to the first, and a deformable enclosure for pressurized gas therebetween for counteracting the pressure of the load of said body against said wheel, thereby maintaining said body substantially in predetermined position relative to said wheels.

4. Cushioning means, for use in connection with a vehicle including a body, wheels, spindles for said wheels, and independent spindle suspension means, having a link system connected to said spindle for defining the movement of said spindle relative to the body of said vehicle, said cushioning means comprising, in combination, a shaft having at least a portion rotatable and secured to said link system, an enclosure structure surrounding said shaft and being secured to said vehicle, a stationary vane extending on the interior of said structure and secured thereto, a movable vane secured to said shaft portion and movable therewith on the interior of said structure from and towards said stationary vane, and a resilient element in said chamber and in contact with said vanes and adapted to resist movement of said movable vane away from said sta- 8 tionary vane and including a deformable enclo sure adapted to receive and to hold a compressed gaseous substance.

5. Cushioning means, for use in connection with a vehicle including a body, wheels, spindles for said wheels, and independent spindle suspension means having a link system connected to said spindle for defining the movement of said spindle relative to the body of said vehicle, said cushioning means comprising, in combination, a rotatable shaft secured to said link system, an enclosure structure surrounding said shaft and being secured to said vehicle, a stationary vane extending on the interior of said structure and secured thereto, a movable vane secured to said shaft and movable therewith on the interior of said structure from and towards said stationary vane, a resilient element in said chamber and in contact with said vanes and including a deformable enclosure adapted to receive and to hold a compressed gaseous substance, said enclosure having an outlet and adapted to receive a gaseous substance of selectively variable state of compression, a gas conduit for connecting said outlet to a source of gaseous substance, and pressure adjusting means for feeding gas to and withdrawing gas from said element, respectively, thereby varying the pressure exerted by said element against said movable vanes.

6. Cushioning means, for use in connection with a vehicle including a body, wheels, spindles for said wheels, and independent spindle suspension means having a link system connected to said spindle for defining the movement of said spindle relative to the body of said vehicle, said cushioning means comprising, in combination, a torsion bar secured with one end to said link system and includin a part adapted to be rotated thereby in opposite directions, an enclosure structure surrounding a portion of said torsion bar and being secured to said vehicle, the other end of said torsion bar being rigidly secured to said structure, said torsion bar being resilient and at the same time sufficiently rigid for resiliently resisting rotation of said first end by said link system, a stationary vane extending on the interior of said structure and secured thereto, a movable vane secured to said torsion bar part and movable therewith on the interior of said structure from and towards said stationary vane, and resilient means disposed in said structure and operably connected to said vanes for resisting movement of said movable vane away from said stationary vane, said resilient means adapted to aid the resistance action of said torsion bar for maintaining thereby said body substantially in predetermined position relative to said wheels.

7. In a vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that each partition comprises a plurality of radially disposed curved vanes.

8. In a vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, together with cooling means extending to said chamber structure and operable to draw off heat towards the outside thereof.

9. In a vehicle, as claimed in claim 1, further characterized in that each partition comprises a plurality of angularly offset vanes, and said deformable enclosure comprises a plurality of separate elements each disposed between a vane of the stationary and an adjoining vane of the rotatable partition.

10. In a vehicle including a body and wheels, wheel suspension means comprising, in combination, a spindle adapted to receive a wheel at the hub thereof and to be borne by said wheel, a

spindle support secured to said spindle, a link mechanism having an oppositely tiltable suspension link pivoted with one end relative to said body and connected with the other end to said spindle support, and resilient revoluble action means including a stationary chamber structure mounted on the body, a stationary partition disposed in the chamber, a second partition rotatable relative to the first, a deformable enclosure for pressurized gas therebetween, and a torsion bar mounted in said chamber structure and interconnected to said second partition and having tWo opposite ends, one of said ends of said torsion bar being secured to said suspension link and being rotatable thereby in opposite directions, the other end of said torsion bar being rigidly secured with relation to said body.

HELENE A. ROTHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Macbeth May 18, 1937 Hunt et al Apr. 26, 1938 Matthews Feb. 21, 1939 Klotsch Oct. 24, 1939 Krotz Feb. 20, 1940 Willson Mar, 26, 1940 Brown July 16, 1940 Mistereif Aug. 20, 1940 Krotz Dec, 24, 1940 Geyer et a1. Dec. 31, 1940 Woolson et a1 Jan. 20, 1942 Graham, Jr Dec. 1, 1942 Slack et a1 Aug. 6, 1946 Probst Aug. 2, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Aug. 6, 1934 

